A DEDICATION:
In honor of all the Sheep who put their skin on the line, who complained about the mistreatment of God’s Sanctuary and Tabernacle, complained about being abused and silenced, and complained about being financially sheared.
With care and concern for those too intimidated by Farmer Bob or Father Bob, for those who ran away from the fight, who were afraid to sign petitions or mandates or letters to the editor.
With prayers for those who are still so divided from Christian principles that they continue to ignore, revile or berate their brothers and sisters in Christ who have done what God has called them in conscience to do.
But especially for those few who stood courageously for the TRUTH, for righteousness, and for the future of the flock, even when others ran away or hid. God bless your caring and your sacrifice on this day especially, when the Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester arrives in Naples, NY to “re-consecrate” the unnecessarily demolished / renovated Sanctuary at St. Jan’s for a photo-op triumphant display of violating the wishes of the majority of parishioners. May God have mercy on him, and on Father Robert Ring, and on the donors who enabled the travesty.
Tags: Bishop Clark, Finance, Fr. Robert Ring
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Cannot know the pain everyone is going through. You are in our prayers.
Gretchen from SOP
You have my condolences Diane. The concept of sacred space is slowly being diminished as wreckovations occur which deemphasize the divinity and majesty of God by replacing more formal and artistic settings with the casual and bare. What makes it even worse is that majority of parishioners didn’t want that demolition and renovation, yet it was done, and now the Bishop is celebrating it.
You don’t see the Bishop coming to St. Andrew Church of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish-when first as Light of Christ Parish, there was the heartache of closing the new Annunciation, then as part of the Northeast Cluster, the decision was made to close St. Andrew Church when it was the most viable of all the churches in the Northeast Cluster (most income consistently from collections/donations and rental properties, also Bingo) and housed a huge number of ministries. You don’t see the Bishop present when announcements are made such as the removal of Fr. Panepinto and the circumstances, (then the charges of embezzlement), that the church has been sold, that fixing the roof and ceiling at the old Annunciation Church was a more extensive job than anticipated and ate ate up funds, and today-that vandals stole the copper downspouts on the roof which then caused water to come through the roof and ceiling near the front pillars with all the rain we’ve had lately, resulting in extensive water damage to the ceiling and floor, etc. (Insurance is covering the cost of the repairs). also today-vandals knocked down iron gates/fence around St. Michael Church and cut it into sections. It was thought that the sections of fence were too heavy to lift and take as they were left behind. A team of strong men had to gather up the sections of iron fence to be welded together and reinstalled another time. You don’t see the Bishop at any of the church closings that have occurred since 2001 to support his flock and share their grief.
It is obvious that the Bishop tends to show up to functions and events where he perceives the church is moving ahead and people are happy.
Diane, at least you tried your best. That matters and serves as an inspiration to others.
What was the turn-out like for the “re-consecration”?
Thank you for the supportive comments. I don’t have the head count yet, but will report it when I hear more. There were some couples in Canandaigua this morning who normally go to St. Jan’s who came to St. Mary’s to avoid the whole event.
It was ironic what the timing was with the Naples Record. On this site previously I reprinted an article by Jack Jones, the investigative reporter. Many people felt it had been fair and even-handed, but Fr. Ring’s backers went postal when they saw it, especially a council member from St. Jan’s who wrote pages to the editor the following week, claiming he is “President” of the OLOL Council (not a DoR title) but was published anyway.
The third week were more supporters of Fr. Ring, with one exception. Then this weekend, there were 3 pages (6 columns) published of a letter signed by 7 people opposed to the Sanctuary renovation, taking the council member to task and straightening out other misconceptions as well. The Naples Record billed it as “Closing Arguments” and said they were finished publishing, so the opponents of the demoliton/renovation got a solid last word in time to greet the Bishop and Fr. Ring.
Diane-I’m glad the opponents of the demolition/renovation got a solid last word in the Naples Record in time to greet the Bishop and Fr. Ring. I admire you for your unwavering devotion, and as Susan of Corning stated, you are an inspiration for others. God Bless You for your Valiant Fight. You are our “Joan of Arc” in the DoR, fighting for Truth.
I would like to acknowledge the cartoon you posted-it fits the situation completely! I have been in other situations through the years where I have had huge backing over a certain issue, but when it came to confrontation time, most of those who were so adamantly in favor of the cause fled, not willing to risk any adverse effects from putting themselves on the line, fighting for what they believed. In cases such as these, I either found myself with a minority of followers, a few followers, or alone, but with plenty of suggestions from the secret followers as to what to do or say, or what I should have done or said.
I also admire all those who showed up to the meeting to fight the demolition of the sanctuary and the new costly renovation, which was not necessary, and those who were interviewed for the Naples Record. I also admire those who refused to pay for the wreckovation and those who purposely did not show up for the re-dedication.
Thank you, Christian, for your very special concern and comments. I can tell from what you wrote that you really have been there and experienced it all. None of us would be able to do what we do without being sustained by the Holy Spirit. And sometimes I sense that the very fact that hundreds of people aren’t doing the same thing is a sign of having received a special gift to ‘fight the good fight.’ Isn’t it a true blessing to be able to do something for God and for His Holy House! God bless you!
Yes Diane, it is a blessing to be able to do something for God’s Holy House! It is a special gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to “fight the good fight” in our churches, our Diocese, our workplace, our family, our society, our country, and our world. We rely on prayer, and guidance and power from the Holy Spirit to do all that we do. I am humble and thankful always that the same Holy Spirit which caused Peter to be remorseful and penitent in denying Christ, ultimately using that to bring about his Supreme Sacrifice, has led me to make a stand and speak out, when at times, I had been reluctant and failed to do so.
Alleluia!
I just found out our beloved church will close 09/04/11. The last Mass is at 2 pm on that day. You are all welcome and please pass on the information to anyone that cares. We faught hard but the devil won the day. THE ABOVE MESSAGE WAS FORWARDED TO ME BY SOMEONE WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE SAINT ANDREW SCHOOL FACE BOOK PAGE. Personally, I strive to love and forgive our Diocesan Officials who stacked the deck against STA in a fixed card game.
Yet, it is virtually impossible to trust those who prove themselves to be untrustworthy.
IS IT WRONG FOR ME TO IMAGINE that on Judgment Day, some of our Diocesan Officials will hear something like the following:YOU DID WELL CLUSTERING, CONSOLIDATING, CLOSING AND SELLING, YET YOU FELL VERY SHORT PROCLAIMING, WITNESSING, DISCIPLING, GROWING, EXPANDING, BUILDING AND GLORIFYING MY NAME……AS A MATTER OF FACT, BIBLE MISCELLANEOUS NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH DID A MUCH MUCH BETTER JOB……GO TO YOUR CORNER AND COUNT YOUR CALCULATIONS AND MARKETING STRATEGIES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER……I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED, I WILL BE OVER HERE WITH THE BIBLE MISCELLANEOUS CHURCHES WHO BELIEVED WHAT I INSPIRED AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE WITH ALL OF THEIR HEARTS…..HAPPY COUNTING!
I hope this whole stinking, corrupt, scandous house of cards comes crashing down, like what happened to Archbishop Wheeland.
” They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy!”